This one-day workshop will cover both practical and theoretical approaches to the disputed diagnosis of “Borderline Personality Disorder”, facilitated by someone with lived / living experience of these issues.

It aims to strike a balance between questioning the construct and discussing practical approaches to some of the difficulties associated with it. This is to minimise the risk that in the context of ever-decreasing budgets, changes in theoretical approach could inadvertently restrict access to support.

What we will cover

Feminist and queer issues around “Borderline Personality Disorder”.

Is Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder a viable alternative to “BPD”? What might ICD-11 mean for those currently diagnosed?

Everyday trauma: day-to-day erosion and the idea of “a stable sense of self”.

The multiple meanings and functions of self-harm.

Practical and creative approaches to self-harm and suicidality, including harm minimisation, managing clinical fear of risk, and particularly the minimisation of iatrogenic harm.

Who is this training for?

This training is intended for anyone with a personal and/or professional interest in “Borderline Personality Disorder” and related issues such as self-harm, suicidality, and trauma. It is not a therapeutic workshop but survivors / service users and clinicians, support workers, etc., are welcome. Attendees should expect some of the subject material to be difficult and possibly triggering, but will be welcome to take a break at any point during the day.

About the trainer

Rachel Rowan Olive is an illustrator, researcher, and mental health service user/survivor with a particular interest in women’s mental health. She combines her artwork and research experience to facilitate training; her work has appeared in Asylum magazine, on the Mental Elf website, and in the Independent. She is a trustee of the National Survivor User Network. You can find her on twitter and Instagram as @rrowanolive.

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